Day-date advancing structure for a timepiece

ABSTRACT

An improved calendar advancing member for a calendar timepiece includes a calendar advancing wheel and at least one resilient finger mounted thereon and driven thereby through an intermittent indexing sequence whereby the calendar display is indexed to a next successive day and date position each 24 hours. The one or more resilient fingers are resilient and spring-like in a first position whereby the calendar display may be driven through a calendar correcting sequence without effecting damage thereto. However, they are rigid as driven by the calendar advancing wheel through intermeshing engagement with the calendar display member for indexing thereof.

United States Patent 1 Nemoto Feb. 5, 1974 [75] Inventor: Isao Nemoto, Suwa, Japan [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha,

Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 295,628

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Schneider 58/58 3,436,905 4/1969 Giger 58/58 Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or FirmBlum, Moscovitz, Friedman & Kaplan ABSTRACT An improved calendar advancing member for a calen dar timepiece includes a calendar advancing wheel and at least one resilient finger mounted thereon and driven thereby through an intermittent indexing sequence whereby the calendar display is indexed to a next successive day and date position each 24 hours. The one or more resilient fingers are resilient and spring-like in a first position whereby the calendar display may be driven through a calendar correcting sequence without effecting damage thereto. However, they are rigid as driven by the calendar advancing wheel through intermeshing engagement with the calendar display member for indexing thereof.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED 51974 3.789.602

SHEEI 2 0f 4 PMENTED 5W4 3.789.602

SHEET 3 [If 4 DAY-DATE ADVANCING STRUCTURE FOR A TIMEPIECE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a calendar timepiece of the type having a calendar display member and a calendar advancing member for indexing the calender display member, and more particularly the instant invention relates to an improved calendar advancing member therefor.

In general, in a calendar watch the teeth of a date wheel, having printed date numbers thereon, are advanced one by one each day to display the correct date, and the teeth of a day wheel having printed day letters thereon are advanced one by one or two by two each day to display the correct day. In the past various types of date and day advancing structures have been used in calendar watches including structures which permitted date and day correction without causing damage to the members thereof. For instance, in such conventional structures a date indexing finger has operated as a spring which bent as driven through engagement with a date wheel by a date advancing wheel, which completed a revolution every 24 hours. Similarly, such conventional structures have included a spring-like finger to drive a day wheel. However, the precision of a timepiece utilizing such conventional structures was adversely affected after relatively shorts periods of use when such spring-like structures were employed.

Thereafter such day and date indexing fingers were constructed of two member, a rigid portion, for instance steel, and a spring-like portion, however, such structures were difficult to produce. Moreover, the precision of the timepiece was still adversely affected because the date indexing finger was directly driven by the calendar advancing wheel and, in turn, drove the day indexing finger. Therefore, any date correction that might occur during day advance adversely affected the precision of the timepiece by interfering with day advance, and such corrections could not be undertaken during day advance. Additionally, the interdependence of day and date indexing fingers increased the indexing time for day and date displays since a relatively long time lag was required therefor between day and date advance.

Accordingly, this invention ameliorates such prior problems by providing improved day and date advancing structures, each structure being directly driven by a calendar advancing wheel while each such structure is suitably endowed with sufficient spring-like and rigid qualities, respectively, for permitting correcting calendar displays and for advancing such displays.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an improved calendar advancing member for a calendar timpiece includes a calendar advancing wheel and at least one resilient finger mounted thereon and driven thereby through an intermittent indexing sequence whereby the calendar display is indexed to a next successive day and date position each 24 hours. The one or more resilient fingers are resilient and spring-like in a first position whereby the calendar display may be driven through a calendar correcting sequence without effecting damage thereto. However, they are rigid as driven by the calendar advancing wheel through intermeshing engagement with the calendar display member for indexing thereof.

Basically, the improved calendar advancing member includes at least one, and preferably two, resilient fin gers responsive to the advance of the calendar advancing wheel for intermittently indexing the calendar display members. The resilient fingers are provided with spring-like characteristics for driving the calendar display members therepast through a calendar correcting sequence without effecting damage thereto. However, the resilient fingers are held rigid as driven by the calendar advancing wheel through intermeshing engagement with the calendar display member for indexing thereof. It is an important feature of the invention that each of the resilient fingers is directly advanced by the calendar advancing wheel.

It is therefore an advantage of this improved construction that time lag between date advancing and day advancing may be reduced. Moreover, it is a further advantage of this invention that day and date turning moments, aswell as the initial moment of day advancing, may be stabilized and remain substantially constant since the day and date indexing fingers are each directly driven by the date advancing wheel. Additionally, the spring-like characteristics of the day and date indexing fingers respectively permit day corrections during day advancing and date corrections during date advancing, while the day and date driving members are rendered substantially rigid as they are driven through the day and date wheels for the indexing thereof.

Still other advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a calendar watch having therein a conventional calendar advancing mechanism, duly labeled prior art;

FIG. 2 is a developed cross-sectional view through the main axes shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 with certain parts rotated out of position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the calendar watch shownin FIG. 1 showing the conventional calendar advancing mechanism in a position for which day may not be corrected;

FIG. 3A is an exploded detail view, in perspective, of an assembly of the calendar advancing mechanism shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 4 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a calendar watch having therein a calendar advancing mechanism constructed in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 5 is a developed cross-sectional view through the main axes shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 with certain parts rotated out of position;

FIG. 6 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the calendar driving mechanism of the invention rotated into the indexing position shown in FIG. 3 for which a day FIG. 6A is an exploded detail view, in perspective, of the calendar advancing mechanism embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Calendar watches of the type with which this invention is concerned typically have a date dial, a day star wheel secured to a day disc and a day and date advancing member. The day and date advancing member usually include a day and date advancing wheel and secured thereto day and date indexing fingers for indexing the date dial and day star wheel to next successive calendar display positions. A pair of jumpers are usually provided for contacting the gear portions of the date dial and day star wheel. Typically, the day and date advancing member is rotated by a wheel train operated by a suitable source of energy such as a cell or a mainspring. Rotation of the day and date advancing member causes rotation of the date dial and day star wheel by means of respective day and date indexing fingers. The jumpers exert only enough force against the date dial and day star wheel, respectively, to cause them to make the desired indexing movement quickly. While it is possible to adjust the entire mechanism so that both the day and date are indexed simultaneously, preferably the watch mechanism is so arranged that changes in day and date do not occur simultaneously.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3A, date dial 2 is rotatably secured to plate I and rotatably held in an appropriate display position by date jumper 3 which is pivotably connected to plate 1. Date advancing wheel 4 is supported on an axis defined by pin Ia extending upwardly from plate 1 and integral therewith, date advancing wheel 4 being rotated about axis pin 1a once for each 24 hour time interval. Date indexing finger 5 is rotatably mounted on date advancing wheel 4 and is driven thereby as pins 5a and 5b, fixedly mounted in date indexing finger 5, engage the end walls of arcuate slots adapted to receive them in date advancing wheel 4 (shown particularly in FIG. 3A). In the timepiece shown date advancing wheel 4 is driven clockwise thereby driving date indexing finger 5 clockwise for indexing date dial 2 clockwise to a next successive display position.

Day indexing finger 7 is supported on an axis defined by pin 1b extending upwardly from plate 1 and eccentrically positioned with respect to pin la. Day indexing finger 7 having a configured slot therein is coaxially positioned with reference to date advancing wheel 4 and an arcuate slot therein is adapted to receive pin 5c, fixedly mounted in date indexing finger 5 and extending upwardly therefrom (shown particularly in FIG. 3A). As date indexing finger 5 is driven by date advancing wheel 4, in turn it drives day indexing finger 7 as pin 50 of date indexing finger 5 engages the end walls of the configured slot defined in day indexing finger 7. Date advancing wheel 4, date indexing finger Sand day indexing finger 7 are relatively positioned such that date dial 2 and day star wheel 6 are not simultaneously indexed as date advancing wheel 4 is rotated. In the event that the display date or day is to be corrected, date dial 2 and day star wheel 6 are driven clockwise and counter-clockwise, respectively.

The portion of date indexing finger 5 which drives date wheel 2 is provided with spring-like character, for instance it may be a metal stamping, and as date wheel 2 is driven through a calendar correcting sequence at a time when date advancing finger 5 is indexing date wheel 2, date advancing finger 5 bends according to the movement of the gear teeth defined in date wheel 2. Due to the spring-like character of the indexing portion of date advancing finger 5, the timepiece is not damaged as date wheel 2 is driven through a correction sequence or during intermittent date advancing. However, as date wheel 2 is driven, teeth of date wheel 2 slide along a slope of jumber 3, and as a given tooth reaches beyond the elbow defining the slope, date wheel 2 is driven by date jumper 3 and the return moment of jumper 3 drives date wheel 2. Since the indexing portion of date indexing finger 5 has a spring-like character, the degree of its bend depends on its material strength and the resiliency of date jumper 3. Therefore the turning moment of date wheel 2 is unstable because there is an imbalance in the resiliencies of date indexing finger 5 and date jumper 3.

Moreover, since day indexing tooth 7 is driven by pin 50 of date advancing tooth 5, and itself rotates about pin lb, for driving day star wheel 6, day star wheel 6 cannot be rotated through a calendar correcting sequence when day indexing finger 7- is in the position shown in FIG. 3. In such position day star wheel 6 cannot rotate because day star wheel 6 and day indexing finger 7 thrust against each other to inhibit rotation thereof. If day star wheel 6 is driven in opposition to the opposing thrust then damage will occur thereto. Additionally, the day indexing moment and day advancing moment will thereby be rendered relatively unstable since day indexing finger 7 is driven by date advancing wheel 4 indirectly through date indexing finger 5. Consequently, a conventional calendar advancing wheel of the type shown in FIGS. 1-3A is prone to mechanical breakdown unless the time lag between date and day indexing moments is relatively long. Additionally, if in the conventional type structure there is a time lag between date and day indexing moments, there is an instance where the calendar cannot be corrected.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6A, date dial 2 is rotatably secured to plate 1' and rotatably held in an appropriate display position by date jumper 3' which is pivotably connected to plate 1. Date advancing wheel 4' is supported on an axis defined by pin 10 extending upwardly from plate 1 and integral therewith, date advancing wheel 4' being rotated about an axis pin 1a once for each 24 hour time interval. Date indexing finger 5 and day indexing finger 7 are rotatably mounted on calendar advancing wheel 4' and driven thereby. Day indexing finger 7 is supported on an axis defined by pin 1b extending upwardly from plate 1' and eccentrically positioned with respect to pin la'.. In general, the operation of the calendar timepiece shown in FIGS. 4-6A. is similar to the operation of the conventional calendar timepiece shown in FIGS. 1-3A, however the problems heretofore discussed with respect to the conventional embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3A do not inhere in the new structure as shown in FIGS. 4-6A.

Referring particularly to FIG. 6A, date indexing finger 5' is provided with downwardly extending pins 5a, 5b, and 5c fixedly connected thereto and calendar advancing wheel 4, which drives date indexing finger 5', is provided with three mounting pin receiving slots 4a, 4b, and 40' adapted respectively to receive pins 54, 5b, and 5c of date indexing finger 5. The indexing portion of date indexing finger S is provided with a spring-like character and concomitantly therewith pin 5c is positioned proximate the spring-like end thereof. As date indexing finger 5 indexes date wheel 2' to a next succeeding calendar position, pin 5c of date indexing finger 5 engages an end wall of slot 40 and the normally spring-like indexing portion of date indexing finger 4 is thereby rendered substantially rigid whereby the date indexing moment is stable. However, when it appears desirable to correct the calendar display date, or when date indexing finger 5' is driven by an independent corrective rotation imparted to date wheel 2', date indexing finger 5' operates as a spring and bends according to the size of slot 40'. Therefore, while pin 5c of date indexing finger 5' does not engage the end walls of slot 40' of calendar indexing wheel 4, the display date shown on the timepiece may be corrected during date indexing in the manner described for the conventional calendar timepiece.

The indexing portion of day indexing finger 7 which indexes day star 6 is similarly provided with spring-like characteristics, and as day indexing finger 7 is directly driven by calendar advancing wheel 4' when downwardly extending pins 7a and 7b of day indexing finger 7 engage end walls of slots 4d and 4e defined therefor in calendar indexing wheel 4', day star 6 is directly indexed thereby.

Particularly, day indexing finger 7 may be driven first by the engagement of pin 7a with an end wall of slot 4d defined therefor in calendar advancing wheel 4' and day indexing finger 7' may be driven from a second position by engagement of pin 7b thereof with an end wall of slot 4e defined in calendar advancing wheel 4'. Accordingly, the day indexing moment may be stabilized as well as the date indexing moment by predetermining and preselecting the relative positions of pins 7a and 7b of day indexing finger 7, and slots 4d and 4e defined in calendar advancing wheel 4' therefor, and arranging pin 7a of day indexing finger 7 so that it may be driven by an end wall of slot 4d as it engages therewith while day indexing finger 7 drives day star 6. Additionally, the arrangement of pins 7a and 7b and slots 4d and 4e are such that when day indexing finger 7' is not driving day star 6, pin 7b may be driven by an end wall of slot 42 and day indexing finger 7 exhibits spring-like characteristics. However, when day indexing finger 7' is driven by the engagement of pin 7a with an end wall of slot 4d, day indexing finger 7 is rendered rigid thereby for indexing day star 6.

Referring now to FIG. 6, if it is desired to correct the calendar day display while day indexing finger 7' is indexing day star 6', such corrections can be made while day indexing is in progress without causing damage to the timepiece since day and date indexing fingers 7 and 5 are directly driven by calendar advancing wheel 4, and the time lag between indexing positions for the respective day and date indexing fingers may be arranged so that one indexing finger is in a spring-like condition while the other is in a rigid condition. For instance, when it is desired to correct the day display while day indexing finger 7' is indexing day star 6, such a correction may be effected according to the present invention. Initially, day indexing finger 7 is rotated by day star 6, as the correction is being made, until pin 7b engages an end wall of slot 4e of calendar advancing wheel 4', and as such occurs, day indexing finger 7' assumes spring-like characteristics and flexes according to the correction rotation of day star 6. Of course, the size and relative positions of slots 4d and 4e, defined in calendar advancing wheel 4', and the pin positions of pins 7a and 7b of day indexing finger 7' must be predetermined and preselected to avoid the occurrence of a correction sequence which begins at a time when pin 7a engages an endwall of slot 4d.

Through use of the inventive construction greater stability may be achieved between initial and turning moments of members of the calendar timepiece, and the time lag between day and date indexing may be reduced thereby. By reducing the time lag between in dexes, the period of time for which day and/or date displays do not appear in the display window of the timepiece is similarly foreshortened.

It will thus be seen that the advantages set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. In a calendar timepiece having a calendar display member including day and date wheels, a calendar driving member for driving said day and date wheels of said calendar display member and a calendar advancing wheel for advancing said calendar driving member, an improved calendar advancing member including a rotatable calendar advancing wheel, and at least one resilient finger responsive to said calendar advancing wheel and rotatably mounted thereon for intermittently indexing said calendar display member, said at least one resilient finger having spring-like characteristics for driving said calendar display member therepast through a calendar correcting sequence without effecting damage thereto, said at least one resilient finger being rigid as driven by said calendar advancing wheel through intermeshing engagement with said calendar display member for indexing thereof, said at least one resilient finger being directly rotatable by said calendar advancing wheel, said at least one resilient finger comprising a first resilient finger having an indexing tooth at an end thereof for intermittently indexing said day wheel and a second resilient finger having an indexing tooth at an end thereof for intermittently indexing said date wheel, said first and second fingers being rotatably mounted on said calendar advancing wheel and said first and second fingers being directly driven thereby, said calendar advancing wheel being rotated one complete revolution each 24 hours.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 including a preselected number of mounting pins fixedly connected to said first and second resilient fingers at predetermined sites thereon for rotatably mounting said first and second resilient fingers directly on said calendar advancing wheel.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 2 including the further improvement comprising a plurality of mounting pin receiving slots provided in said calendar advancing wheel for receiving said mounting pins fixedly connected to said first and second resilient fingers, said mounting pin receiving slots being defined in said calendar advancing wheel at predetermined distances one from another, each mounting pin receiving slot being of predetermined size, said first and second resilient fingers being spring-like as said mounting pins 

1. In a calendar timepiece having a calendar display member including day and date wheels, a calendar driving member for driving said day and date wheels of said calendar display member and a calendar advancing wheel for advancing said calendar driving member, an improved calendar advancing member including a rotatable calendar advancing wheel, and at least one resilient finger responsive to said calendar advancing wheel and rotatably mounted thereon for intermittently indexing said calendar display member, said at least one resilient finger having spring-like characteristics for driving said calendar display member therepast through a calendar correcting sequence without effecting damage thereto, said at least one resilient finger being rigid as driven by said calendar advancing wheel through intermeshing engagement with said calendar display member for indexing thereof, said at least one resilient finger being directly rotatable by said calendar advancing wheel, said at least one resilient finger comprising a first resilient finger having an indexing tooth at an end thereof for intermittently indexing said day wheel and a second resilient finger having an indexing tooth at an end thereof for intermittently indexing said date wheel, said first and second fingers being rotatably mounted on said calendar advancing wheel and said first and second fingers being directly driven thereby, said calendar advancing wheel being rotated one complete revolution each 24 hours.
 2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 including a preselected number of mounting pins fixedly connected to said first and second resilient fingers at predetermined sites thereon for rotatably mounting said first and second resilient fingers directly on said calendar advancing wheel.
 3. The improvement as defined in claim 2 including the further improvement comprising a plurality of mounting pin receiving slots provided in said calendar advancing wheel for receiving said mounting pins fixedly connected to said first and second resilient fingers, said mounting pin receiving slots being defined in said calendar advancing wheel at predetermined distances one from another, each mounting pin receiving slot being of predetermined size, said first and second resilient fingers being spring-like as said mounting pins ride through their respective mounting pin receiving slots and said first and second resilient fingers being rigid as said mounting pins engage walls of said calendar advancing wheel defining said mounting pin receiving slots. 